Hows life at IISc, IISER, and NISER? Is it worth going there?

Is it worth going to IISc, IISER, or NISER? Absolutely, yes.

Alright, let's dive into it, especially if you're dreaming of being a scientist. But if you're just considering this as a backup after JEE/NEET, maybe think twice.

Now, onto why it's worth it. Life here is pretty awesome. The campuses are stunning; just check out any tour video. They rival the best international schools. Sure, things get busy at times, but overall, it's quite flexible. The professors are top-notch and approachable, with 7 to 8 teaching assistants per subject, living right in our dorms. Plus, professors have open office hours for students to drop by.

We celebrate all sorts of festivals here, and they’re a blast. Janmashtami and Onam were recently celebrated, and Ganesh Utsav is happening right now, and it’s a hit.

If you're looking for fun, we hang out in groups, often listening to our talented peers sing until the early morning. If you're more of an introvert and love books, there's a book club offering an amazing collection for just 75 rupees per semester.

There are clubs for every hobby imaginable. We have game coaches to help beginners, and the movie club hosts screenings every Friday and Sunday night.

But let’s talk academics before our folks think we’re just partying all the time. The professors at IISER are excellent. Our physics professors specialize in fields like astrophysics and condensed matter physics. Our chemistry professor was so engaging that he made me love the subject, despite my struggles during JEE prep. They’re always willing to help, but you need to reach out to them, especially in subjects you’re passionate about.

The lab work is incredibly engaging. We make mistakes, learn, and create amazing things. I remember being amazed at the needle-shaped crystals we observed. They were so perfectly formed, it was hard to believe they weren’t alive. Our professors are very wise. Our first assignment was to write about 15 out of 30 pieces of equipment we’d use all year. We spent the first lecture exploring them. It was about getting familiar, and it worked.

That's life at IISER—academic and otherwise. It's a mix of fun and learning. We're looking forward to having you with us. Come join us, and let’s chat about science for hours.

Hey there :)

Looks like you’ve got two questions, so let's tackle them one at a time.

1. What’s life like at IISc, IISER, and NISER?

I can only speak about life at IISER Pune since I haven’t experienced NISER or IISc myself.

IISER Pune in a nutshell? It’s liberating. Cambridge Dictionary describes liberating as feeling free, and that hits the nail on the head.

But if you’re looking for more details, here’s what I can share:

Starting with the hostels, they’re great. They’re way better than what I imagined. You get a nice room, two beds, a hopefully good roommate (and you can swap if it doesn’t work out), and LAN access, which is super important.

About the food, I was always worried about hostel food, but it turns out my fears were unfounded. The food here is really tasty, with plenty of choices, and having your friends around makes it even better.

Classes are what you’d expect from IISER—super interesting. I won’t dive too deep because you can always check the course structure or worry about quizzes later.

The labs are fantastic. As a first-year student, I’ve been in bio, physics, and introductory Python labs. They’re awesome. You get to perform experiments, ask lots of questions, and actually get answers from professors or TAs. Labs are definitely my favorite part.

Now for the fun stuff—clubs!

Early on, there are club orientations. You just try out what you’re interested in and join the ones you like. It’s really that simple and enjoyable. You meet loads of new people, both seniors and students from other schools. For example, there’s a club called Disha where we teach 8th, 9th, and a few 10th graders. While my friends teach math, I figured out how to calculate the day of the week for December 15, 1990. There’s even a quiz every Monday with random topics, and though we rarely get the answers right, it’s still fun. We’ve also explored the Panchawati hills, which is a short walk from campus, seeing flowers, birds, dogs, and even fish in the quarry. It’s beautiful, even if it means waking up at 6 in the morning.

The campus itself? Stunning. Seriously, it’s gorgeous here. The best part is there’s no curfew for getting back to the hostel if you’re on campus, so my friends and I often stroll around IISER Pune. I’d totally recommend it, especially with Pune’s lovely weather.

And the events? We’ve had Ganesh Visarjan with dhol and taasha, which was a blast. We also had a pre-Karavaan/freshers party with an open mic (I performed, of course). There was an Onam celebration filled with decorating and dancing, which was delightfully chaotic. And yet another open mic session.

All this in just a month! It’s been the best month ever for me. From the excitement in my writing, you can probably tell that life at IISER is a dream come true. The atmosphere is really wholesome. Sure, there are ups and downs, but the overall experience is what counts, right?

2. As for whether it’s worth going to one of these places, that’s up to you. I don’t know your personal interests. Only you can decide that.

Do you love science? Are you curious? Do you want to meet people from across India and learn from them? Do you see yourself as a future scientist?

That’s what I’ve got for now. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out.

Take care :)